Northern Illinois University College of Business

Northern Illinois University Fast Trak MBA Program Structure

The Northern Illinois University Fast Trak MBA is a day-time, 12-month program in Barsema Hall on the DeKalb campus with required international experiences in Bordeaux, France or Murcia, Spain. Students attend classes Monday through Friday, during both the spring and fall semesters.

NIU’s Fast Trak MBA allows recent graduates with no prior experience to earn an MBA in just 12 months. The lock-step program, by which all students enter and experience the program together is designed to build effective partnerships and friendships amongst participants. Fast Trak students have the opportunity to earn a second Masters degree in International Management from IAE the Bordeaux University School of Management or a Master of International Management from the ENAE School of Business in Murcia Spain. The program begins with a mandatory orientation session in mid-August for all students.

The MBA portion of the program is broken up into five modules. Students take between 2 and 4 courses during these 5-8 week intensive class blocks. Dual-degree students also travel abroad for two three-week periods between modules 2 and 3 and 3 and 4.

Curriculum

Northern Illinois University Fast Trak MBA students have a dual international degree option of pursuing a Masters in International Management from ENAE Business School in Murcia Spain or Bordeaux University School of Management in France in addition to their MBA. The ENAE Business School offers classes in International Finance, Global Human Resource Management, International Trade Practices, EU History, Global Marketing, EU Business, International Negotiation, International Logistics, and Intercultural Management. The Bordeaux School of Management offers a similar curriculum with International Finance, Global Human Resource Management, International Business Law, International Trade Practices, Global Marketing, EU History, EU Commercial Relations, European Business Culture, International Negotiation, Wine Economics, International Logistics, and Intercultural Management courses available.

At NIU, the lock step curriculum is designed to provide the basic business tools of financial accounting applications, legal issues facing managers, economic forecasting, marketing management and financial management. The last three modules build on this foundation and include managerial accounting controls, strategic marketing, building an effective organization, operations management, leadership development, financial analysis, and overall policy analysis.

Modules 1 and 2, which cover business foundational principles are each 7 weeks long and run form the conclusion of orientation in late August through late November. Students pursuing the double degree option then travel for three weeks to either Bordeaux of Murcia to pursue coursework for their Master of International Management degree. Module 3 launches immediately after the New Year and runs for eight weeks, focusing on Management of Functional Areas. In early March, students journey abroad again for another three weeks of international learning. Module 4 then focuses on Master Business Strategy for eight weeks from mid-April until early June. Finally, Module 5 completes the degree with five weeks of Business Strategy work, including a capstone project, from early June to the beginning of August.

Students are assigned study groups that remain constant throughout the entire 12-month lock step program.

The Fast Trak MBA Capstone Project is an important part of the curriculum. It places students in a hypothetical situation that forces them to assess real-life applications and interactions, challenging them to develop a business plan, which they present and defend to the company’s management team and business professionals and entrepreneurs.

Class Profile

Males comprise 60-65% of the program, while 35-40% of program students are female. Nine to 12% are international students. The average class size is 35-40 students. Students in the Fast Trak MBA Program come from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds with the following majors represented in the class: Accounting & Finance, Communications, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, History, Management, Marketing, Mathematics, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, and Sociology.

Careers

Northern Illinois University Fast Trak MBA students are enrolled in the Insight Program, which is specifically designed to help students learn about professional development, career planning, and leadership. Usually held on Fridays, the program offers developmental workshops, career coaching, E-Mentorship with a professional in an industry of interest, corporate visits and guest speakers.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Approximate in-state tuition for the double degree (MBA & MIM) is $42,000. Out of state and international student tuition is $53,550 for the program. Students who decide to only pursue the MBA can eliminate about $5,000 of the program costs listed above. These figures do not include books, materials, and housing. All international students are required to stay in NIU-approved housing.

Admissions Procedures

Applicants are required to complete the online application, submit a $40 credit card payment over NIU’s secure server, include two written recommendations, an up-to-date resume, and complete the Statement of Purpose form. Additionally, official transcripts from any undergraduate programs and official GMAT scores must be submitted. Students may also submit TOEFL or IELTS when applicable (international students). Finally, a face-to-face or telephone interview will be scheduled once all of the necessary application materials are received by admissions.

An undergraduate GPA of 2.75/4.0 and a GMAT score of at least 450 is required for admission. Business Information Systems and Business Statistics courses (or equivalents thereof) are also necessary for admission to the program.

Any applicant whose native language is not English must submit either TOEFL or IELTS testing scores. For the IELTS a score of 6.5 or above is necessary to be admitted. Alternatively, scores of at least 80 on the TOELF or 213 on the 0-300 scale are required for admission.

Application Deadlines

Prospective students are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Fall – July 15

Spring – December 10

Summer – June 1

International students who seek to enroll in the fall semester need to complete their applications by May 1. Students who apply by June 1 have the opportunity to select their preferred international location for the Masters in International Management degree. Those who apply after are considered based on placement availability. It is strongly suggested that all candidates consider admission deadline dates when scheduling an appointment for GMAT and TOEFL testing. Early test-taking offers the candidate the best opportunity for admission into the program.